Konrad Wurm, Sr. was born in Bavaria.  He emigrated to America in 1853 aboard the steamship R. B. Sumner.  Also aboard was fellow émigré Miss Johanna Obert. It is unknown whether the two Germans began their voyage as a couple, as they were listed far apart on the passenger manifest, but, the two entered the country together through the port of New Orleans on October 19th and made their way St. Louis Missouri, where on the 5th of November, 1854 they were married.

Later that decade the Wurm family, now with two young children, continued up the Mississippi River to St. Paul, Minnesota where Konrad found work at J. B. Arnold's North Mississippi Brewery. In 1863 Wurm established his own brewery on Stewart Avenue near Cascade Street. He directed the brewery until his death at age 57 on the 21st of May, 1877. Upon Konrad's passing his wife Johanna took over operation of the brewery with her son Konrad Wurm II. The brewery closed in 1889 and Johanna died five years later.

Johanna Wurm (née Obert) was born in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg. It is possible she met her future husband, Konrad Wurm in October of 1853, on the ocean journey that took them to America. They were aboard the ship R. B. Sumner, according to the passenger manifest, apparently travelling separately. They made their way from New Orleans to St. Louis, where they were married there the following November. From there they moved further up the Mississippi to St. Paul Minnesota, where Konrad found a position in the newly opened North Mississippi Brewery. Three years later Konrad founded a brewery of his own, just down the street in the Reserve neighborhood of St. Paul (Crocus Hill today). When Konrad died in 1877 Johanna ably took over the brewery. She ran the firm for 12 more years before retiring at age 67 in 1889. Johanna Wurm died on the 27th of September, 1894 at age 71 years.